You know, since the conception and creation of the Maa Aankh, I have found this simple yet complex diagram to be remarkably beautiful and powerful in its ability to guide me to more profound truths. First, the Maa Aankh cosmogram is based upon the surviving Bantu-Kongo philosophies that were brought to North America via the slave trade and syncretized with Pentecostal Christianity, which has been combined with Kamitic (Ancient Egyptian) and traditional Kongo philosophy in order to restore one back to his or her glory.

Kongo Yowa Cross

You see, I learned contrary to popular belief, that early African Americans did not lose all of their cultural practices as initially thought. It appears this way only because a substantial amount of African American culture (language, beliefs, foods, etc.) has been absorbed by the greater and dominant American society.

Kongo Cross on Colonoware

Archaeological artifacts and historical documentation reveals that a substantial amount of African American culture survived the enslavement period primarily because of the Bantu-Kongo cosmogram known as the Dikenga, Yowa or Kongo Cross.

Kongo Cross used for Ventilation during Underground Railroad

This is the reason generally speaking African Americans unconsciously continue to engage in similar cultural practice that have been found throughout the Afro-diaspora (especially in regards to honoring the dead), despite not having any knowledge of other African and African derived traditions.

This is because what I discovered was that early African Americans did not lose their culture. Instead what early African Americans loss was their cultural philosophy and theology, which is the indigenous, traditional or ancestral explanation that explains the purpose behind the cultural practice. To compensate for this loss and combat the cruelty of slavery, early African Americans adopted and borrowed concepts from Protestant Christianity. Today however, the concepts of Christianity have outlived their purpose which explains why the number of churches and temples within in our steadily declining communities, is steadily rising, but none of the problems that exist are being solved. (Hence, “Everyone believes they are called to be a preacher or some other religious leader.” In truth they are just ego-tripping.) As a result, this has inspired many (myself included) to search for an unadulterated cultural philosophy.

Portuguese ship

Unfortunately, when I tried to research the traditional philosophy of the Bantu-Kongo, I discovered that because the Kongo- Angolan region was the first to encounter the Europeans. They were also the most devastated by the Transaltantic Slave trade, imperialism and civil discord, which meant that most of the traditional Bantu-Kongo philosophies was lost (especially with the passing of the great Kongo scholar Dr. Kimbwandende Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau).

Thankfully, the Kamitic (Ancient Egyptian) Amun Ra tradition had similar beliefs as the Bantu-Kongo.

So when I combined the Kamitic beliefs with the existing Kongo Cross information that survived in North America; through channeling it led to the creation of the Maa Aankh.

The Maa Aankh like most sacred cosmograms or medicine wheels found around the world, can be interpreted a number of ways depending upon how you use it. The following are some of the most common interpretations:

From a personal perspective, since the Kamitic word “Maa” meaning balance, order, righteousness and truth, and “Aankh” means life or to swear an oath. The Maa Aankh can be translated as “To swear an oath to live truth” or “Righteous Living.” From a group or tribal perspective the Maa Aankh could be interpreted to mean the “Order of Life” or “Holistic Living.”

These different interpretations are all based upon the basic understanding of the Maa Aankh, which consists of land above and the land below symbolizing Earth surrounded by four discs. These discs symbolize the four moments of the sun described in KiKongo as – Sunrise (Kala – Black), Midday (Tukula – Red), Sunset (Luvemba – White) and Midnight (Musoni – Yellow, when the sun is believed to be shinning on the other side). The four solar discs also symbolize man and woman’s soul and correspond exactly to the Kamitic Amun Ra divinities birth – Khepera (Creative Ra or Creative Power), life – Ra (Authoritative Ra or Overseeing Power), death – Ra Atum (Complete Ra or simply the Power of Revolution) and rebirth – Amun Ra (Hidden Ra or Hidden Power).

Amun Ra

Thereby indicating that the Kamitic gods are not gods at all but are abstract concepts and attributes of God describing the evolution of one’s soul and consciousness.

Copyright 2013 Derric Moore

From a metaphorical perspective the Maa Aankh provides deeper insight into the Kamitic Story of Osar when the land above is symbolized as TASETT – the Red Lands or Lower Kamit ruled by Set, and the land below is symbolized as KAMTA – the Black Lands or Upper Kamit ruled by Osar (Asar, Ausar, Osiris in Greek). According to legend Osar came into power when humanity was at its lowest, but he managed to uplift his people by teaching them Maa. All loved Osar but his youngest brother Set had grown increasingly jealous of Osar and eventually killed him. Thanks to the loving devotion of Oset (Aset, Auset, Isis in Greek), Osar’s beloved wife, Hru (Hrw, Heru or Horus in Greek) the heir of Osar was born, who after surviving many attempts on his life as a child. Hru grew to adulthood but after being visited in his dream by his deceased father Osar who instructed him to avenge his wrongful death. Hru challenged his evil uncle for the throne. Finally after numerous battles and litigation, Hru finally defeated his uncle and united the kingdom. This is why he rests in the center of the Maa Aankh, wearing both crowns, indicating that everything extends and everything returns.

Again metaphorically speaking, the Story of Osar can be interpreted a number of ways. Consequently, some see the story as a metaphorical retelling of historical events, while some others may interpret it as a prophecy. In either case, because the Story is a great story, no interpretation is incorrect because each interpretation communicates a deeper truth about the fight between good and evil.

Hru Osar and Set

However, metaphysically speaking which means going beyond the physical. When TASETT is used to symbolize our subconscious self or the division of our being that functions on autopilot in our daily visible life, while KAMTA (since black also refers to invisible) is is used to symbolize our superconscious self or the intuitive part of our being, and Hru is conscious self. The Story of Osar due to the Maa Aankh takes on a more profound meaning. It indicates that since Osar is the ruler of KAMTA or our intuitive superconscious memories (ancestors, spirit guides, angels, spiritual energies, hidden forces, etc.) and Set is the ruler of TASETT or our habitual, personal subconscious memories (all the conditionings, habits and learnings we have acquired in this present life time, etc.). In other words, it is the conscious use of our subconscious that leads to our divine awakening.

Osar as Lord of KAMTA (the Black Lands)

The Story of Osar therefore becomes an allegory about the constant daily fight we all must undergo between our higher, superconscious, divine self and our lower, subconscious, ego self. Meaning our salvation or spirituality is all about learning how to surrender control to our higher spirit, higher self or Osar, instead of being controlled by our lower spirit, lower self, ego or Set.

The Maa Aankh from this perspective is a visual reminder what all the great sages of humanity have told us since the time of immemorial, that the Kingdom of God is found within. In other words, peace, happiness, prosperity and power are all ethereal concepts, which mean they can’t be found externally. These attributes can only be found within by looking beyond the physical. In other words, the only one who can save you is yourself and as soon you realize this, is when you will be free.

You know, part of the reason why it is so difficult for so many of us to move on with our lives and take control of our future is because we are stuck in the past. We are constantly spending time going over why something happened or it occurred. The lower division of our spirit called in Kamta the sahu (or the subconscious part of our being) makes us want to know why a thing occurred. It forces us to seek a “logical” explanation, so that it will not occur again. It is sort of like the first time we touched something hot. It was our sahu that remembers the pain and reminds us so that we do not burn ourselves again.

But, there are something that can’t be explained by logic alone. For instance, a lot of people still ask the question why were some of the Native Americans in the Caribbean, North and South America defeated the way they were? Why did slavery occur? Really, because we are a spiritual minded people even when we don’t want to be, what we really want to know is why did God allow genocide and slavery to occur? In fact, let’s go a little bit deeper, why does God allow evil to exist? I mean really, why does God allow terrorists to bomb churches with four little girls or bomb mosques and other religious sites?

Many of us have struggled with these questions for a while now and the traditional means has not provided a good explanation. In fact, no matter how much information we learn, nothing seems to give us solace so that it will never occur again.

Well, I have found that the best way to deal with issues in our past where a logical explanation is not sufficient is to lean upon the Story of Osar (Asar, Ausar, Osiris in Greek) for understanding and peace of mind. In the Story, after Ra the grandfather of all things gives Osar the enlightenment he wanted to build a peaceful nation, and after Osar successfully unifies his people and builds a prosperous civilization. He is brutally murdered by his brother Set who usurps the throne. (Osar by the way is associated with our ba or higher self, which is the explanation as to how and why Osar built a prosperous civilization. Set on the other hand, is associated with our sahu. This is the reason our past haunts us because it is Set who knows the weaknesses of our mind likes to torment us with it. Keep this in mind because we will come back to it shortly.)

Now, Hru (Heru or Horus in Greek), the hero of the story engages his evil uncle Set on the battlefield, but his victories are not consistent and most of them end in stalemates. In one epic battle, Set manages to get close enough to our hero and is able to gouge out his eye. Hru I imagine, battered, blinded in one eye and hard to see out of the other, flees and finds his father’s old vizier Djahuti (Tahuti, Tehuti or Thoth). Through magical means Djahuti repairs Hru’s eye perfectly. As a result, today people from all walks of life happily adorn their bodies and themselves with this Eye of Hru because they understand that it is a symbol of protection but, why and how?

The Right Eye of Ra (Also known as the Solar Eye corresponds to literal and physical sight.)

Well, the magic and the power of the Eye of Hru (also called the Left Eye of Hru) is based upon how we interpret the first parts of the Story. For one we have to understand that the Story is alluding to the concept that Hru only one eye or one perspective, which was based solely upon what he could physically see. This corresponds to the Eye of Ra, hence logic.

The fact that Ra, in this case, symbolizes the Creator and is Osar’s and Set’s grandfather could mean the farther one gets away from the Light or the Source, the easier it becomes to lose your way. Another point that I want to bring out is that because Ra is the grandfather of both Osar and Set, means that the Creator is not bias and doesn’t see the world as we do in black and white, right and left, correct and incorrect. It is all relative to the Creator because to the Divine they are all two sides of the same coin. A while ago, it was put to me this way, that the same life energy that fills your lungs also fills the lungs of our enemies, which means the Divine stays out of the whole matter. One can say that the Divine sees the fight between Osar and Set as sibling rivalry. Think about that the next time you wonder why God allows certain injustices to occur, that the Divine has no say so in the matter.

This is because from a spiritual perspective, both good and evil are needed to justify the other’s existence, hence the whole good and evil dichotomy is actually a cycle where one experiences highs and lows. Note this is why Osar sought Ra in the first place because his people were wild and out (the low). Then Osar introduced to them the Maa and they became civilized (the high). Next, Set usurps the throne and forces the people back into a world of ignorance (another low). I am highlighting this part so that you can reflect back on your life and see the high and low periods in your life. Note when you are in the highs or at the low points, because this is you life pattern. For instance, I have noticed that I usually get a lot of material blessings around February and March, which is my annual zenith. I can’t explain it, I just know that that is when one of them usually occurs and I have a second one as well. It is like I get a sudden burst of blessings then they wane like the waning moon. So chart your annual cycle. You can also chant your monthly, weekly and daily cycles as well. The monthly cycles are relatively easy because this is when most of us get a paycheck. Notice your energy level. Take note if things are exciting or chaotic because of bills. As with the weekly cycle, note how your energy is come Monday. Do you really feel blue on this Moon-day or is it because everyone say you do? Does Wednesday feel like a hump day, can you really see Npu at the crossroad of the week? Are you really looking forward to Nebhet’s Friday, and if so why? Really take a look and see how your energy level is during the day, week, month and year. See how it cycles or oscillates like a serpent or sin and cosine wave.

Now, if you have completed the above exercises, you will be able to really appreciate our hero in the Story. Part of the reason Hru exists is to escape that high and low energy cycle from above. In esoteric circles this is called transcending your horoscope. Note using money as an example, we all love when we get some money, but don’t you hate when you don’t have enough money or the money you need to get the things that you want? Of course, because we all hate the lows. Wouldn’t it be great to not have any lows at all? I mean for instance, wouldn’t it be great to have the money you want to take care of your needs all year around and not have to live paycheck to paycheck? Sure it does.

The Left Eye of Ra (also called the Lunar Eye corresponds to intuition and spiritual sight, hence insight.)

Have you ever asked yourself why you have these lows? I means why is it so difficult for you to save money or keep enough money so that you don’t live paycheck to paycheck? Have you ever noticed that when you try to save money there is a part of you that fights your decision and wants you to spend all of your money on the things you want? Notice also that every time you try to save your money, something always comes up unexpected? This is where Djahuti comes into the Story and reveals to Hru (by repairing his eye) that our universe was built upon the foundation of Maa.

This means nothing unexpected happens. It might not have been planned but nothing happens by chance. That’s right. There is no such thing as coincidences in the traditional African worldview. Everything is based upon cause and effect regardless if you can see or understand it or not. The trick of Set is to convince us that our universe has no order and that everything is based upon what we physically see, but this is an illusion. This is the reason Set rules over the desert region of TASETT on the Maa Aankh, which is full of mirages or explained in the Christian lore as the lord of the earth and flesh. Another interesting point is that the Right Eye of Ra corresponding to Ra moment hovering over TASETT, also represents logical thinking. Meaning, this is the reason logically we are not able to defeat our enemy because we are relying upon the same resources that our enemy uses, who is older and more powerful.) This is why in order to see past the illusion, we must remember that according to the Maa Aankh and other African cosmologies, that the physical emerged out of the spiritual, hence it is our thoughts, ideas, etc. that shape our physical reality.

That’s correct. Everything that you physically see is basically the end product, the end or final result whose origins exist in the unknown, invisible, spiritual realm called KAMTA. Set would have us to believe that grasses, plants and trees just sprout of nowhere, thanks to the Maa and Djahuti the master of science, we know that all plant growth comes from a seed. This means there is a hidden reality beyond our physical reality that makes the things that we see manifest themselves physically. Hence, Hru’s eye is repaired.

The Eyes of Ra (Provide a Holistic Perspective)

As you know, once Hru’s eye was repaired he defeated Set on the battlefield. No fuss. No muss, because now he has a holistic view, hence Two Eyes are better One.

I say all that to say that evil exists to show us our weaknesses, so that we can overcome them – that is the impurities within our soul. As to why does God allow evil to exist. The hard truth for many of us to swallow is that God has no say so in the matter because the Divine gave us all free will through Hru. This is the reason God will never physically appear before you and physically take a cigarette out of our hand because it is harmful to your body. Nor, will the Divine take a bottle of poison out of our hands and prevent you from ingesting it. If the Divine saved us from our own unwise decisions all the time, how would we ever learn and take responsibility for our own life? How would we know how to manipulate fire to cook our food, warm our homes, fend off invaders, etc. if we never got burned?

Set the Lord of Chaos, Confusion and Disorganization brings about losses to show the limitation of the physical realm or TASETT and the problem with relying solely upon what we see, which is represented by the Ra moment (Midday Sun – Life) falling and becoming Ra Atum (Setting Sun – Death, our spiritual death or demise) on the Maa Aankh(see above).

This is why I tell people all of the time, “God is not going to save you. The Divine created you Hru!”

Hru Osar and Set

Without Set, many of us would never seek the Divine from within and learn to overcome our own shortcomings. It is only when we get really tired of Set kicking our butt from one place to the next (in the physical realm) that we will flee to Djahuti (a wise elder, a master in the field, an oracle, etc.) for some wisdom, so that we can learn how to overcome our personal enemy using both physical and spiritual means. Once you learn how to overcome your enemy, like all lessons in life, you will never be haunted again by the past.

Funny thing. Some time ago, Martin Lawrence did an episode on his televsion show where he wanted to find himself before marrying the love of his life Gina, so he joined a cult. His name was Brother Shaquille Sunflower and it was a very funny episode because Martin was basically taught to hate everything that he knew and only depend upon the cult and the cult leader, who later you find was a hypocrite herself. Anyway, I encourage you to watch it while it is syndication because it highlights how we were all enslaved to someone or something.

By now, most people have heard of the infamous Willie Lynch letter. Although, it is not known if the letter or the author of it is fact or fiction, the process for making a slave essentially became the blueprint for enslaving all of humanity. And, since July 25 is the feast day of Saint James in Puerto Rico and Haiti, which forever changed the fate of humanity. I felt it appropriate to title this post “How to Escape the Cult” because technically this is what we were all in. Let me explain.

Portuguese ship

Around 1419, Portuguese sailors began exploring how to navigate around the coast of Africa and in 1483. Portuguese sailor Diogo Cão succeeded and managed to sail up the Congo River. As was the case in other areas where the Europeans first encountered an indigenous population, the people of the Kongo Kingdom initially avoided contact with the Portuguese sailors. Then most likely overwhelmed by the Portuguese technology contact had occurred, which eventually led to many in the Kongo Kingdom – particularly the Kongo nobles – to converting to Christianity around 1485. When Cão returned back to Portugal, he left his men in the kingdom and took with him some Kongo nobles. Upon his return back around 1491, he brought with him Catholic priests, Portuguese soldiers and literate Kongo nobles. It was at this time, the ruler of the Kongo Kingdom Nzinga a Nkuwu was baptized and in honor of the Portugual king changed his name to João I but is said to have later reverted back to his traditional beliefs.

St. James feast day is July 25.

João I ruled for a number years and died in 1506. He was then succeeded by his son Mvemba a Nzinga also known as King Alphonso I. According to Alphonso, he was challenged by his brother Mpanzu a Kitima but managed to defeat his brother through the help of Saint James and the Virgin Mary who appeared in the sky and frightened his adversaries. As a result, Alphonso I made Christianity the state religion. He then worked hard to establish a Catholic Church in the Kongo by creating a syncretic version of Christianity and sending his son Henrique who later became an ordained priest around 1518.

It is true that slavery was practiced throughout Africa and according to Alphonso’s records the slaves were prisoners of war most likely captives who opposed him and the kingdom’s expansion. These captives were sold to the Portuguese merchants but when Alphonso learned that many of the Portuguese were acquiring slaves illegally around 1526 he wrote the Portuguese king João II to put an end to the practice, but it continued.

When the first Africans were brought to the Americas, even though they were slaves initially they were treated as indentured servants whom the Portuguese sold to the Spanish. The status of these Africans and all other Africans changed when the enslaved indigenous Americans or Amerindians refused to work the mines and clear the land for their Portuguese and Spanish enslavers. As a result, the need for cheap yet strong workforce quickly became in demand, so the Portuguese and Spanish turned to the Africans for several reasons. First, Old World diseases like smallpox and syphilis along with war inflicted upon the Amerindians, had just about decimated the indigenous population, but the Africans (who weren’t immune to these diseases) seemed to have a stronger resilience toward these illness. Also, since the Africans weren’t indigenous to the land, it is also believed that they would not escape into the jungle as the Amerindians had done in the past.

Once the First Atlantic Slave Trade got along the way around the early 1500s, the Portuguese who kidnapped and enslaved the Africans, then traded them to the Spaniards, generated so much wealth in the process, that it attracted the Dutch, English and French to the trade.

Around the early 1600s, the English, Dutch, French and Portuguese initiated the Second Atlantic Slave Trade which kidnapped and traded slaves from the West of Africa, shipped them to the Caribbean and South America, and returned back to Europe with sugar, rum, hemp, tobacco, molasses and cotton. The first Africans to arrive at the English colony Jamestown, Virginia were from the Kongo – Angolan region around 1619, 41 years before slavery even began in North America in 1660.

Once the other European powers got involved in the trade, the English totally dominated it and slavery became totally race based, as Africans throughout West Africa were kidnapped, enslaved and shipped to the Americas. In response, Africans who were kidnapped and living in the Caribbean and South America had already begun revolting against the cruelty of the chattel system. Many had already begun revolting and/or creating “Maroon” colonies throughout the Caribbean and South America, like the revolt of San Miguel de Gualdape in 1526, the revolt of Gaspar Yanga near Veracruz, Mexico in 1570, and Quilombo dos Palmares led by numerous leaders including Zumbi, which existed in Brazil from 1605 to 1694. It should be noted that when slavery began in 1660 in North America, the first documented revolt occurred in Gloucester Country, Virginia in 1663. Then in 1712 there was the New York Slave Revolt.

Revolts continued to take place wherever there were slaves. Although most people have heard about the Nat Turner revolt, there were numerous revolts that occurred in the North America. These people resisted in every way they could from burning and sabotaging crop production to spiritually resisting, which led the Africans and their descendants in Hispanola to win Haiti’s independence in 1804.

It is not known if a clandestine group gathered together to conspire this act or not, but in response to the numerous revolts it would seem that around the start of the 18th century, King William III issued a charter to the Anglican Church establishing the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts or simply the SPG in 1701. The SPG was tasked with evangelizing to the slaves and Native Americans throughout the British colonies, but upon doing so they faced a dilemma. They noticed in North America, that the slave owners were staunchly against their slaves being Christianized because they didn’t want their captives confusing their freedom from sin to mean freedom from slavery. So, in a desperate attempt to placate the concerns of the slave owners and meet their religious charge, the missionaries from the SPG perverted the loving, peaceful, equal rights teachings of Jesus Christ to justify slavery, by introducing the Curse of Ham. Thus, rationalizing that it was by divine decree that any person of dark skin was supposed to be a slave because they were children of Canaan and therefore wild, heathen, mindless beast and through slavery they could be civilized.

Again, it is not known if this was the original intention but the process totally dehumanize all people of color, especially those of African descent, so that they would continue to be slaves and not have to import slaves from Africa anymore. By teaching this perverted form of Christianity, the Anglican missionaries were in essence creating docile, non-thinking human beings that would be forever dependent upon the dominating system. This new type of human being was different from all other human beings because all people naturally learn to love themselves by divine right. Anything that teaches otherwise is simply contrary to nature.

This new human being that slavery created believed that their origin is what the slave master, conquering culture or dominating system (religion, science, etc.) claims. Now, at this time it should be noted that every culture that has ever walked the earth, has had a theory on how they were created. And, I state again, they are all “theories,” but only one particular culture has come out and told others that their “theories” are incorrect, silly and wrong. In other words, only one culture has denied the rest of the world population that right to express their own beliefs and opinions.

Consequently, this new creature identifies first and foremost with the so-called children of Ham, the Canaanites (or any biblical reference) as a point of origin, because they have been convinced that their theories about life are incorrect. Therefore, they are coaxed to believe that everything the Christian bible (or the Koran) states is historically accurate. This coupled with the technology of the dominating group convinces people that ancestral and traditional way of life as compared to that of the Christian and Muslim, is not only inferior but silly, superstitious, backwards and uncivilized. This is why to this day, despite the fact that Africa is a continent and it has numerous countries with numerous major cities. People still to this day are under the impression that Africa is full of uncivilized, idol worshiping heathens dwelling in the jungle.

Maputo, Mozambique

So anything associated with the old ways is seen by the new creature as being wild, uncivilized and therefore evil. For instance, the new creature sees the problems occurring in Haiti as being a punishment from God because of their involvement with Vodou, but fails to see or understand that it was Christianity and Western imperialism that forced the Haitians into slavery. The whole slavery system it was further contributed to their financial demise and like many of the countries in Africa, Haiti’s economy and government has suffered due to corruption and civil strife, encouraged and supported by the existing Western powers, and the only thing that helped them to survive was Vodou, which they used to win their independence.

Haitian Revolution

Only keen individuals like the Kongo King João I are able to see that Christianity (and all of these dogmatic religions) are symbols of status quo that show social progress. In other words, if you want to be rich and on the winning team, you better belong to one of these major religions. If not, then you will be punished by their god’s wrath.

Kouzen Zaka the Minister of Agriculture

This is the reason Christianity is spreading throughout Latin America and Islam throughout Africa, again by force, because associated with their peace, love, god fearing, justice seeking and unity messages on one hand; is the hypocritical and brutal treatment of those who don’t believe as the masses do. In other words, the brutal treatment of those who don’t want to be enslaved based upon their ethnicity, race, sex or creed and want to have the right to belief whatever they choose to believe. This is why these people revolted against slavery, because they understood their God given right to exist and realized that no one can deny them of it.

The new creature has an extremely negative view about all people of color particularly people of African descent because it has been strongly impressed upon his and her psyche that the only God given rights they have are the one’s that are given to him or her by any of these major religions they belong to.Therefore, if you don’t belong to the same religious group, organization, political party, etc. then you are prime to be conquered.

As you can see, the process to create a slave, where one has no self-pride, no self-discipline and simply is docile, while waiting to be saved (physically, financially, emotionally, etc.) from a great savior in this life or the afterlife, and totally dependent upon his or her savior, was created during slavery, but this “cult show” was taken abroad to exploit all people.

Again, prior to this period you will find that people warred against each other but not based upon color, race, sex or creed. It was always over resources because another was infringing upon another’s God given rights. The wars also didn’t last forever nor were the people trying to eradicate another off the face of the earth. This all changed due to slavery.

Now, the untold story is that the Africans and their descendants didn’t just lie down and accept their fate. Many of them like the Native Americans saw through the hypocrisy like Frederick Douglas who was quoted saying:

“I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. Never was there a clearer case of “stealing the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in.” I am filled with unutterable loathing when I contemplate the religious pomp and show, together with the horrible inconsistencies, which everywhere surround me. We have men-stealers for ministers, women whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who wields the blood clotted cow skin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus. The man who robs me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of life, and the path of salvation. He who sells my sister, for purposes of prostitution, stands forth as the pious advocate of purity. He who proclaims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read the name of the God who made me. He who is the religious advocate of marriage robs whole millions of its sacred influence, and leaves them to the ravages of wholesale pollution. The warm defender of the sacredness of the family relation is the same that scatters whole families,–sundering husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers,–leaving the hut vacant, and the hearth desolate. We see the thief preaching against theft, and the adulterer against adultery. We have men sold to build churches, women sold to support the gospel, and babes sold to purchase Bibles for the POOR HEATHEN! ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GOOD OF SOULS! The slave auctioneer’s bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other, and the bitter cries of the heart-broken slave are drowned in the religious shouts of his pious master. Revivals of religion and revivals in the slave-trade go hand in hand together. The slave prison and the church stand near each other. The clanking of fetters and the rattling of chains in the prison, and the pious psalm and solemn prayer in the church, may be heard at the same time. The dealers in the bodies and souls of men erect their stand in the presence of the pulpit, and they mutually help each other. The dealer gives his blood-stained gold to support the pulpit, and the pulpit, in return, covers his infernal business with the garb of Christianity. Here we have religion and robbery the allies of each other -devils dressed in angels’ robes, and hell presenting the semblance of paradise.”

- Frederick Douglass,Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Part of the reason, many Africans and their descendants were able to see through the hypocrisy was because remember, the first Africans brought to the Americas – particularly North America – were from the Kongo – Angolan region.

Kongo Cross

The Kongo-Angolan people you will recall were either Christian or already had a working knowledge of the Christian faith prior to the Gospel being perverted, because King Alphonso I created a practical syncretism between their traditional and the Christian beliefs. Part of the syncretic process consisted of merging the Kongo Cross with the Christian crucifix, which is why the Kongo Cross survived in America, along with other remnants of our Kongo ancestral past.

Kongo Cross used for Ventilation during Underground Railroad

Although, everything is not known about the role the Kongo Cross played in the survival of our ancestors and their legacy, it is known that it was one of the key markers used in the Underground Railroad in Savannah, Georgia.

First African Baptist Sanctuary stain glass windows

In fact, the church is full of Kongo motifs, which have been found throughout the southern United States. This means that the way to reverse the cult making process is to invest in the traditional ways of their ancestors. This is the only way to overcome the self-hatred, self-loathing, self-destructive and idle behavior that forces us to become slaves to any system except the spirit of the Divine dwelling within us.

It all boils down to the fact that no religion can promise you what is already yours, which is freedom – a God given right. This is what Martin had to learn in the episode and what we all need to realize. As Children of the Divine, we were all born free and there is no man made rhetoric that is needed to explain who, what and how it happened. This I believe is what Alphonso I realized, which is why he created a syncretic or Africanized Christianity prior to the Second Atlantic Slave Trade.

Now, so that we don’t get distracted, diverted and make something the scapegoat, we have to understand that the true enemy is not a particular group of people, congregation, affiliation, etc. It is not even the original teachers of these religions or the religions themselves, because most of the original concepts are all universal truths. The problem as I showed earlier, was that our ancestors – the Africans and the Native Americans – fell for this trick bag in the first place is because they failed to see their own self-worth. As a result, it became easy for the Europeans and their descendants to enslave nations of people based upon the color of one’s skin and creed. The reason they failed to see their own self – worth is because they were influenced by the devil, who is the only one that convinces people to hate themselves and idolize another.

Now, when I say the devil, I am not talking about the pointed ear, red horned, goat head man running around with a pitchfork described as being the epitome of evil and the one who fights against his own Creator. No. The devil is described as being a low, beast like, half human creature because he is our Ego and every culture has a similar description of evil as being egocentric energy that seduces us based upon passions. This is why if you read the history of all of dogmatic religions you will find that they enslaved and forced people to convert to their religious beliefs.

Hru and Set – Fighting the Devil Within

You will find it always had to do with sex, money and power, which is the reason the Kamitic people called this egocentric energy – Set who later became Satan. It is our own lower self that we have to fight. This is why if you look at the corruption occurring in the major religions, organizations and government you will find it is the same vices, sex, money and power, which are all Ego driven. This means that essentially regardless of the name, there is only one religion and it is really the Cult of the Ego.

This is why our liberation from these Egocentric Cults is to adopt a nondogmatic traditional belief like the Maa Aankh, which will reteach us about our divinity, self-worth and self – discipline. The reason is because if not we will continue to active members in the Cults of the Ego.

That’s right we are all members belonging to the Cults of the Ego. Want proof? Well, only our Ego is the only force that will tell us that we are not worthy, ugly and inhuman. It is the only force that will encourage us to alter our appearance (usually chemically) and to give up that which has helped us to survive this far, for something that is greener on the other side of the fence. It is the only power that will convince us that in order to receive approval we need to conquer others through either sex, money and/or power. Most of the higher officials know that it is all a ploy, which is why they are not that devout and usually many of them get caught in some sex scandal, money scheme, etc. This is why in the Martin episode, the cult leader after seeing she had Martin under her thumb and totally depended upon her financially, emotionally and spiritually tried to seduce him.

If you still don’t believe that you are an active member of this cult. The ultimate test is this, if you can’t observe a people practicing a traditional or pagan religion, objectively without criticizing and accusing them of being idol worshipers, heathens, etc. and seeing the beauty of their tradition. Then the devil has you in his trick bag, because you are only a few steps away of condemning and persecuting others for not believing what you believe.

In order to escape the Cult of the Ego and see your true enemy, you need to ask yourself two question:

1. Who has the most to gain from your involvement in this Cult? Or, what happens if you leave the Cult?

2. Is it really improving your life?

Again, it is important that you understand this for several reasons. The first is so that you don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater and have an enmity against everything and everyone associated with the cult, because you will do yourself a disservice if you do this. Not to mention that at this point in the game, every friend is not an ally and every enemy is not a foe. The second reason, is so that you leave one Cult of the Ego and join another Cult of the Ego, which usually occurs with people leaving one religion and joining another, or one movement and joining another, or looking for a particular savior or leader. Remember, the Cult of the Ego teaches that one is not worthy, one is ugly, one cannot prosper unless they receive approval from others, etc. It suffocates your divinity.

When you truly understand that your true enemy is your Ego, then you will see that anything and everyone that your Ego endorses is against your divine nature, and it will show through their actions and words. Once you see the devil for what he is – your lower self – and understand how your Ego tricks you into staying in the Cult of Ego.

Then you can break free of him, because you will see that the only power the devil has over you, is the power you give him.

I wanted to share with you a discussion that I had with someone recently. They had read in one of my books how I mentioned that back in the day, due to slavery African American shamans were preachers, priest or priestess, teachers, counselors, healers, psychics, herbalists, diviners, etc. because they all preformed some type of healing for their respective communities. However, not every preacher, priest or priestess, teacher, counselor, healer, psychic, herbalist, diviner, etc. is a shaman. How is that possible? What’s the difference between the two and why do I follow a shamanic path?

Well, without going through a long dissertation, besides the obvious like attire, ritualistic approaches for seeking spiritual assistance etc. like chanting, drumming, dancing, etc. The key difference is based upon how one sees the Divine. Shamans typically don’t follow any type of dogma, whereas most adhering to an organized religion or haven’t adopted shamanic principles into their life, usually do.

This approach is very significant and we see how it plays out when it comes acquiring spiritual assistance. For instance, when an adherent seeks spiritual assistance in help with some issue they are facing. The adherent from the organized religion is instructed to seek the Will of God through prayer, meditation, divination, etc., because they have been taught (or believe) that they are a humble and sinned servant that needs to be saved. From this approach, it would appear that God is doing the individual a favor, which explains the reason why so many feel they have to beg and plea to be saved, and if they breach a moral code of conduct, they must beg for forgiveness. This is not the case in most shamanistic traditions.

In shamanism when the shaman needs divine or supernatural assistance, they simply seek the solution to their problem through prayer, meditation or divination, etc. because they see themselves as a co – creator with the Divine. It is not solely left up to the Divine if they will live or not, but responsibility is also shared by all of those involved. For instance, if one wants to overcome an illness, then the patient has to also take responsibility for his or health and do what is necessary physically and spiritually to acquire good health. This is because from a co – creator’s perspective, the Divine is literally the Source and will support you in whatever you choose to do. This is the reason most shamans don’t concern themselves with spiritual enlightenment or seeking to expand their consciousness, because it is like acquiring knowledge without experience. Instead, shamans focus upon practical objectives because in resolving these issues they not only achieve tangible goals but in the process may also acquire the wisdom when dealing with similar issues. In this case, spiritual enlightenment is seen as fascinating side effect that if it occurs great, but if not there’s no problem because it wasn’t the intention in the first place. This is because shamanism focuses upon practicality, which is based upon Maa - that is, Objective Truth not what belief is popular at the time.

So in essence, most belonging to an organized religious structure (or still harboring this mindset) focus on the future (and the hereafter). Everything they approach is from this same dogmatic perspective whereas they feel if they don’t do this they will be punished. If they don’t eat right, they will be punished. If they act and treat their neighbors right, then they will be punished. If they don’t belong to this particular group or affiliates, then they will be punished. Everything is based upon the fear if they don’t do a particular thing, then they will “reap what they sow” because it is based upon catastrophe.

Shamans on the other hand, focus on the here and now in order to make a better future. Since shamanism is pre-religion, it doesn’t force people to live their lives out of fear of sin, karma, etc. When something doesn’t work or doesn’t produce the desired results, it is not looked upon as being the will of God or some divine act. If God doesn’t punish animals for their animalistic behavior, why would God punish human beings for their animal behavior? This was seem contradictory, which in shamanism the Divine is not. So when something doesn’t work or doesn’t produce the desired results. It is simply seen as being botched like too much of one ingredient was added to a cake mix. Basically, it is due to things not being in balance.

Shamanism basically assists an individual in saving themselves, instead of depending upon someone or something outside of themselves to save them, because most have been Called like preachers who have been Called to the pulpit. The main difference being that most shamans consisted of them overcoming an deadly illness, destructive and negative behavior that is destroying their family and/or community, etc.. In their mysterious rebirth, they learn what to do and what not to do not because it offends the Divine presence within them. In other words, it separates them from their divinity, thus inhibiting them from creating miracles in their life. This is why elderly black men and women in southern churches use to abstain from certain behaviors, practices, obscenities, perversions and substances. It was this shamanic practice that was brought from Africa that assured that the one being Called would not adjust their concept of God in order to accept, ignore or overlook their wickedness. This age old African tradition has rapidly become extinct in most Black Churches, which is why there is a lack of spiritual development today in the Black community.

Maa-The Path of the Feather

I personally chose and continue to follow this path because it establishes a rapport between you and the Divine. When something is right, you instantly see the results. When you have done something wrong, you get that feedback as well and learn to make adjustments. No one needs to tell you what you is right or wrong. If you have your right mind, we all have commonsense. We all know what is right or wrong because the Divine is within all of us, so no matter how much we try to sugarcoat it you know. This is why it is not even necessary to persuade people of what is the truth or not the truth, because Truth is Divine and the Divine’s spark dwells within us all. So, it is not a matter of not knowing the Truth or Maa, it is about choosing not to believe it and in that case. God doesn’t have to punish you. You are simply punishing yourself.

Now, shamanism is not about making up your own rules as you go, but a lot of people due to Western thinking are use to rules and feel that if they don’t have any rules. They don’t have any guidelines to maneuver around. For those people, I say that according to the Maa Aankh, when we physically die our soul will stand before Osar in accompany with our ancestors, where we will give account for everything that we did while among the living. If our soul is boggled down by confusion and guilt, then we will become a confused, misguided and tormented ghost or aapepu. This means that if you can’t imagine standing before you beloved ancestors and proudly telling them everything that you did in secret with no shame. Then, you might want to give that thing, substance, behavior, etc. up.

Hetepu (Peace) Family. The other day I was talking to my former supervisor who is very religious and she was just telling me all about the Holy Spirit. I thought it was interesting for one because even though she knows I don’t believe everything she believes. She still identified me according to the way I live my life as being “Born Again,” which is why I titled this post this way. But, all while she was talking I was just wondering if she even knew where this came from. Then I got to thinking about how churches are so different now.

Musical Greats inspired by the Church

Let me explain real quick. Remember the music of the Motown era, Staxx and so on? Remember when those singers like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes (sorry to all music purist, I know I am jumping around…I WAS NOT born during that era, please forgive me :) ) and all of them talked about their beginning or how they developed their musical talents? Do you remember what they all would say? That’s right the Church. They all gave the same answer, that they honed their singing, musical, and oratory skills in the Church. Now, if we skip to contemporary times people will not say the same thing. The response is somewhat so-so but you will hear most comment on how they came from the “secular” world and brought their talent to the Church. Interesting isn’t it?

I mean when did the Church start getting its inspiration from the Streets? It was when they loss their Anointing or the Spirit of God, and once they loss this connection, the ability to be Spirit-led wasn’t far behind.

William J. Seymour, son of former slave and leader of the Azusa Street Revival

You see, the whole Spirit-led phenomenon that most Churches talk about today was supposed to be due to following the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. The evidence that one is filled with the Holy Ghost is by speaking-in-tongues based upon the Day of Pentecost. If you ask most churchgoers where this movement began, they will tell you that it all started at the Azusa Street Revival, which was started by William J. Seymour.

Charles Parham, evangelical preacher and mentor of Seymour

What they don’t tell you is that Seymour was a student of Charles Parham and when he came upon the revival he denied it and denounced the movement as being taken over by hypnotists, spiritualists and fortunetellers. (see A Catechism of Christian Doctrine…No. 3, Supplemented by Rev. Thomas L. Kinkead. Bezinger Brother, 1921 pg. 261-262). In fact, Parham’s racial views about African Americans and Mexican Americans involvement in the Pentecostal Movement is what led to the development of separate Pentecostal organizations in the United States.

Pentecostals Praying and Laying hands

Obviously, the reason most Black scholars and theologians, as well as non-Black theologians refuse to say anything about this is because they don’t want anyone to know about their African shamanistic roots and spiritualistic origins. But, the failure to acknowledge and address the African element is the reason so many people in the church are experiencing such a disconnect from the Spirit of God. It is all because the practice of speaking-in-tongues as evidence that one has the gift of the Holy Ghost is a form of spirit possession, particularly African trance possession.

Afro-Brazilian Trance Possession

This practiced survived in the Untied States because Spiritualism encouraged it by proving that there is life after death and how one could speak to spirits, thus verifying Native American and African beliefs in the otherworld. If it had not been for Spiritualism – particularly Kardec Spiritualism – most of the indigenous practices of Native Americans and Africans throughout the Americas (Caribbean and Latin America) would have become extinct.

So, the practice of speaking in tongues or possession survived, along with other African practices such as prophesizing and shouting, which are all Spirit-led because of Spiritualism. What does this have to do with losing connection to the Spirit of God, you ask? It means that the original beliefs and practices go beyond the Azusa Street Revival. The actual theology comes from Africa.

African American Ring Shout

Being led by the Spirit, as any African Traditional and African Diaspora practitioner will tell you is great, but you have to verify what the Spirit is saying is true, and this is why the loss has occurred. There is no verification process, which means any spirit can come in and tell a person to do something. The older people in the church had ways of discerning if what the spirit was telling them was true or not (called divination), but for reasons “unknown”. Their ways were regarded as being superstitious and backwards practices from Africa, which is the reason it was not taught.

Coliseums & Mega Churches

As is the case all throughout the world, when two cultures encounters each other, the dominant culture takes from the other elements, which it sees as being beneficial and profitable to its own, while discarding the rest. So, now when you turn on the radio or watch TV you see all sorts of preachers talking about the Holy Ghost and being led by the Holy Spirit. You will hear all sorts of singers talking about how great the Holy Spirit is and how it is the most beautiful thing in the world. All while these peoples’ lives are in shambles, they have poor nutrition, they have low self-esteem, poor relationships, and impoverished communities but yet the Holy Spirit is wonderful.

Clearly, something is missing and that something is the African element, which the “powers that be” deemed as being superstitious and backwards. It is because most churches do not have this element, which is the basis of the Azusa Street Revival. The reason so many people in the church have simply sold out. With no anointing or no-Spirit you got to find ways to entertain the masses. While it seems a little barbaric to create great coliseums and see gladiators physically kill each other. If you look at most mega churches, they do resemble coliseums and they get on stage and allow their egos to have a slugfest instead. I am not here to judge anyone but really. If all of these people really had the Spirit of God within them some of the issues that exist in our society would cease, so why haven’t they? Clearly, something is wrong.

Please understand my post is not to ridicule the church. I have become a very objective individual, so I can and will listen to anyone because Absolute Truth is Absolute Truth regardless of whose mouth it comes out of. I enjoy listening to some preachers when it is the Spirit sermonizing and not the speaker’s ego. The purpose of this post is get you to understand that the original idea of what it means to be saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Didn’t come from Azusa Street but from Africans and early African Americans who wanted to be “saved” and delivered from slavery. American Churches watered down the original purpose and in a minute we will see why.

Kongo Cross on Colonoware

You see, the Africans and early African Americans relying upon remnants from Africa combined with Christianity created the Spirit-led tradition that people are so happy to talk about today. They also created a coded language that allowed them discern if what the Spirit was telling them was true or not, unlike people nowadays who just want to experience the Spirit or feel good and do nothing with it. Therefore, if you want to be truly reborn, you need to understand that it is not about listening to the Spirit. You have to learn to trust the Spirit and follow the Spirit’s guidance. Once you do this, you will realize after you have verified that what the Spirit is telling is true. That the reason you speak-in-tongues is because all of those tongues are the ancestors who reside in the unseen spirit world.

Basic Kongo Cosmogram

But not every dead person is an ancestor. Some of the dead were bad people in life and they continue to be bad people in the afterlife. This is why the elders had to find a way to discern what the Spirit was saying is true. Most of our elders did this through bibliomancy, the art of divining with a book. Although any book can be used, the book most of our elders used was the Christian bible. Are you beginning to see why it was regarded as superstitious?

Black Jesus (as depicted in the film Red Tails)

Unfortunately, most of the original theology that the elders relied upon was lost because Jesus from the African and early African American perspective was seen as being a patriarchal ancestor. Fortunately, this early African American concept was not new. It was practiced in Kamit/Kemet (Ancient Egypt) some 3,000 years ago and the patriarchal ancestor was Osar (Asar, Ausar or Osiris in Greek).

Maa Aankh Cosmogram

This is the whole reason behind the heroic Hru (Hrw, Heru or Horus in Greek) fighting his evil uncle in order to reclaim his ancestor’s crown, the white crown of Kamit called the Hedjet or Crown of Osar.

Hru Osar and Set

So, how do you know when you have been reborn. You will know when you are truly reborn because your Osar (the patriarch of your lineage) gives you self-pride. When you have pride in yourself, you will live a better life because your Osar will help you not to do it. Your Osar will tell you that certain things are harmful to you. You can “try the Spirit” and it will help you in everyway. It will not cause you to humiliate yourself by altering your looks just to be accepted by the public. Most importantly, the Spirit will get you to stand up and fight in whatever way possible against injustice. It will truly liberate you of your fears because as Jesus said, the Spirit is a Comforter. So the question that remains is why would the “powers that be” take the African element out, besides trying to disassociate itself with spiritualism? Well, remember this historical event?

Martin L. King Jr. Arrested

Ok, maybe not. How about these historical events?

MLK a Global Force

Do you get the picture? King was transformed by the Holy Spirit, which transcended all sorts of cultural and racial boundaries. This is why he was able to mobilize people to march on Washington, D.C. Mind you, when I say they marched, they didn’t take buses and drive to D.C. then walked the rest of the way, like these contemporary marches. The people marched from all over the country to D.C. Regardless of what you believe about King, the fact is that he led the most powerful march in the history of the country, which is why his influence is still felt. I believe clearly you can see it wasn’t ego driving these people who marched during the Civil Rights era…it was the Spirit. This is the reason the religion has been watered down, because they don’t want any of us, YOU included, to be the next Martin L. King Jr.

This is why to be reborn the right way means to learn how to connect first to your Osar and this is the true purpose of Kamta.

Never Forget

So, with all of these spiritual people in our society, it is time to change the world.

The other day I was watching a program on National Geographic and they were talking about healing or what they called Strange Healings, which was non-Western approaches to healing. One of the healing practices they featured was the practices of a shaman from the Andes. This particular shaman had diagnosed his patient by using a guinea pig. A similar practice exist in Africa using a goat. In remote parts of Asia they use a sheep or chicken. Anyway, the shaman from the Andes whom they call Maestro (Master) after diagnosing the ailments correctly, offered the guinea to the earth and prepared another offering to remove the spirits that brought the illness from the patient. Then, he chased the spirits away with a series of ritual actions.It was an interesting segment but then they brought on Western trained anthropologists, psychologists and sociologists who talked about that the reason the shaman was successful, was because of a placebo effect.

“Really???” I asked. “How sad.”

How sad I said because it is really a shame that Westerners can’t see beyond their arrogance. Now, I am not totally against Western education and thinking, but you need to know its limitations, which is based totally upon the physical senses. It is the failure recognize that there is something beyond the physical that prevents Westerners from making any serious grounds spiritually. It is because the people in the Andes can see beyond the physical and identify with the spiritual that allows them to see the sacredness of all things like the coca leaves, which they chew daily. That Westerners have abused, misused and are addicted to.

Now, I am not promoting drugs use but I am trying to get you to see that it is our Western thinking that prevents us from seeing the wholeness of God. It is our Western training that makes us arrogantly believe that because we don’t understand a thing. Means that it is not real or effective. This also is what makes us search for God through someone else eyes rather it be through an Arab’s, Chinese or East Indian’s perspective. The problem with this of course, is that the spirituality of these peoples reflects their divinity through their own eyes and not of foreigners. This means that when you take this same Western or non-holistic perspective and try to learn about someone else spirituality that is foreign to you. It is not going to work either, because there is a safe guard preventing people from abusing and misusing it for mundane and profane purposes.

It is this same safe guard during the Cultural Movement of the 1960s and 70s, that prevented people like The Beatles, Jim Morrison and the Doors, and everyone else during that period from truly climbing higher spiritually, and. Instead led many of them to abusing substances, social disorder and the committing all sorts of heinous acts despite their original natural and peaceful intentions.

It is the same safe guard that made the Great I AM tell Moses to inform the Children of Israel not to gaze upon Him at Mt Sinai because they would perish. What is this safe guard? It is culture. Culture and spirituality are uniquely tied or joined at the hip and if you don’t have one. It is hard to get the other. In fact, culture is what spirituality different from religion.

What’s the difference you ask between spirituality and religion? Real quick, religion is based solely upon beliefs whereas spirituality is based upon experience. A person can change their beliefs like changing their clothes but you can’t change or deny your experience. This is why spirituality in most non-Western cultures is closely tied to initiations, where you either received the initiation or not.Religion is something you practice. Spirituality is what you are. Have you ever asked a person who they are and answer they are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.? This is a religious individual, because their beliefs are dictating who they are and will be. A true spiritual minded individual tells you his or her name based with conviction based upon their experience.

It is this lack of holistic thinking that makes people jump around and try other faiths. I know because I did it as well. Fortunately, my padrino (godfather) and I met and helped me to see life from a different perspective. Of course, it didn’t come quickly. I had to go through a bit of ordeal as you all know, but this ordeal was my trial by fire or leading to my burning bush initiation. It was because of my initiation I began to see the Kamitic tradition differently. Like many, I had read and read the Kamitic legends numerous times and just chalked them up as fanciful stories, which is evidence of my Western education (indoctrination), non-holistic thinking and lack of maturity. When I was undergoing my informal initiation that’s when the truth of the Story of Ra and Oset appeared to me.

The Story of Ra & Oset

According to legend, Oset (Aset/Auset/Isis) wanted to be a goddess, so she conjured up some old foot magic and created a serpent, so that when Ra journeyed across the two lands. The serpent would poison Ra with its bite and in order to save him. Ra would have to reveal his true name to her based upon the belief that whosoever knows his true name could control him. As planned, Ra journeyed across his kingdom and when he came upon the serpent that lie in his path, he was bitten and became very ill. In agony Ra called out to his children to save him but none knew of a cure except for Oset. When Oset came to Ra’s aid she called him to reveal his true name to her so that she could drive the poison out him. Ra after much hesitation tells Oset,

“I have made the heavens and the earth, I have ordered the mountains, I have created all that is above them, I have made the water, I have made to come into being the great and wide sea, I have made the ‘Bull of his mother,’ from whom spring the delights of love. I have made the heavens, I have stretched out the two horizons like a curtain, and I have placed the soul of the gods within them. I am he who, if he openeth his eyes, doth make the light, and, if he closeth them, darkness cometh into being. At his command the Nile riseth, and the gods know not his name. I have made the hours, I have created the days, I bring forward the festivals of the year, I create the Nile-flood. I make the fire of life, and I provide food in the houses. I am KhepeRA in the morning, I am RA at noon, and I am Tmu at evening.”

After hearing all that Ra had said, Oset told him, “The poison continues to run through your body because you have not reveal your true name, my Lord.” Finally having no other choice Ra conceded and he led Oset into another room so that no one else could hear them. When they were alone. Ra caused his name to pass from within him and into Oset, which she used to drive the poison out of Ra’s body. The story ends with the impression that the name was not revealed, but the story was a riddle because the name was revealed to Oset in secret. To understand the story, the word for secret and hidden is “Amun or Amen,” which also means to conceal (this is the reason the word was borrowed and used to follow the end of Jewish, Christian and Islamic prayers).

Basic Kongo Cosmogram

It was from this Story it was revealed to me that Khepera (sunrise), Ra (midday), Ra Atum or Tmu (sunset) and Amun Ra (midnight) are not God. They are the divine attributes of the Almighty God, Nebertcher. Together these four attributes correspond to the four moments of the sun (sunrise, midday, sunset and midnight), the four directions (east, north, west and south), the four stages of Life (birth, life, death and rebirth) and the four moments of the Kongo cosmogram (Kala, Tu-Kula, Luvemba and Musoni).

Kongo Cross (Dikenga)

This is how I discovered the maa aankh, a Kamitic – Kongo inspired cosmogram based upon my ancestors’ cultural perspective, which reveals my divinity and uniqueness. Instead of making me feel inferior or culturally subservient to others.

So you see, Egyptologists and other Western scholars got it wrong because they are not culturally in sync with the Kamitic thinking, which was holistic. It was because of my experience guided by the wisdom of my padrino, that allowed me to rediscover and resurrect my own divinity. Thereby connecting to God, which allowed me to see the sacredness of all things. In other words, I had to see God through my Ebony Eyes in order to get a holistic perspective to improve my life. This is why I am eternally grateful for meeting my padrino because without him I would never have had the pleasure of meeting the orisha Ochossi (Oxossi) and later the netchar Maat.

That’s right, it was Maat that showed me the entire picture or Maa. It was Maat that showed me the Maa (the Way), which I hope you can see means more than just balance, reciprocity, law, justice, order, karma, etc. I hope you can see the difference from knowing and believing in God. When you believe. You only see part of the picture – usually the one based upon your physical senses, hence the intellectual side everything (based upon your limited understanding). You see the differences between yourself and others, which is why it is hard for people to come together peacefully.Not only that, when you just believe you tend to argue with others on who is right or wrong, which is a typical Npu (Anubis/Sebek) and Eshu (Ellegua) trick, all due to perspective.

It is important to note that people that believe in God need rules, laws and commandments to follow or they believe that God will punish them and so on. And, rightfully so, because without these rules they would cause great harm to themselves and others because they lack the maturity, understanding and responsibility.

Spiritual people on the other hand don’t just believe in God but know God, which allows them to see life holistically. They live their life based upon what is ideally correctly. A truly spiritual minded individual can or tries to harmonize (be at peace) with anyone regardless if they agree with their beliefs or not, because they understand everyone has a journey. They can come together peacefully with others because they focus on the individual’s spirit. This does not mean they condone negative, self-destructive and perverted behavior, no more than Moses did. It just means that see the sacredness of all things and do not need any commandments, laws and rules to tell them what they should and should not do. Because they see the dangers beforehand. It is part of the holistic or Maa perspective.

I say all this to inform you that if you find yourself flip flopping from faith to faith, not knowing which way to turn or what is right from wrong. If you feel that you have lost your way or that you haven’t found your way. It could be because you are looking at life from one perspective and not seeing the whole picture. It might be time for you put down the books and ask Maat to show you the other side of life. So that you can develop your intuition and learn to see life holistically.

A lot of people would like to know was Jesus a Kamitic initiate. Well, it is not known for sure if he was or wasn’t. I wondered about this when I was growing up, which is part of the reason why I embarked upon this journey so many years ago. You see, I remember being told when I was younger that the Egyptians were a horrible idol worshipping people that enslaved the “Chosen People” of God. But, I couldn’t for the like of me understand that if the Kamitic people were so evil, why the Daniel, the kid that had the coat of many colors, serve as a vizier? Why did the Joseph flee with Mary and Jesus to Kemet or Kamit, and stay for so long if they were enemies of God?

Then when I got older and continued my research, I wondered why was Moses according to Acts 7:20-22 educated in the ways of the Kamitic people, if the Kamitic people were so evil? It would take years for me to discover that it is because God never cursed or considered the Kamitic people to be evil. This was a gross assumption that someone made and they ran with it. It was another way of trying to promote the twisted theory that the descendants of Ham or Kam were a cursed and wicked people. People swallowed it hook and bait because the bible was interpreted literally and has been used as a world history book.

When it is understood that the bible is all about the genealogical seed of Adam and it is interpreted from that perspective of how anyone can achieve great things. It becomes easy to see why our ancestors in the Americas, kin in Caribbean (Rastafarians) and martyrs like Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey, Elijah Muhammad, Haile Selassie, Malcolm X, and Civil Rights leaders like Martin L. King Jr. and others were able to use the bible as a tool against racism and slavery. They understood the ancient African science of conjuring.

When you understand the power of the Spirit in relation to the Soul, Kamit metaphorically and metaphysically speaking becomes a port of entry. We enter Kamit every time we close our eyes, but only a few of the biblical characters actually were initiated into it. Does it make sense now, why Moses and Jesus went to Kamit?